Counterbalance for ditching machines



June 25, 1929. G. T, RONK COUNTERBALANCE FOR DITCHING MACHINES Fn. D o o O O Nv QN my AMV NN' M\ N Q\\ a YW June 25, 1929.

G. T. RONK 1,718L434 COUNTERBALANCE FOR DITCHING MACHINES Filed Feb. 28, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet. 2

Patented June 25, 1929.

UNITED STATES GEORGE T. RONKV, OF CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA.

COUNTERBALANCE FOB. DITCHING MACHINES.

Application led February 28, 1928. SeralmN'o. 257,773.

The object of my invention is to provide a counterbalance of simple, durable and inexpensive construction designed to be mounted on the rotatable platform of a ditching machine, 4and provided with means whereby the counterweight may be moved toward and from the center of the platform to counterbalance the weight of the diteher bucket as the same is operated toward or from the center of the platform.

A further object is to provide a counterbalance which has a weight automatically moved toward and from the center of the rotatable platform, which is controlled by the rocking movement of the platform relative to the supporting truck.

A further object is to provide in connection with a ditching machine platform, carrying an operators cab, a counterweight which may be moved to position Within the eircumseribed area of the cab when at its inner limit of movement, to permit the ditching machine platform to be operated in close quarters when so desired, and

which is capable of being extended at other times to counterbalance the weight of the boom and diteher bucket.

My invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a ditching machine showing the manner in which my improved counterweight is applied thereto.

Figure 2 is a plan view of my improved device, a portion of the supporting frame being shown in section to more clearly illustrate the mechanism.

Figure 3 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 4 4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is. a detail sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 3.

The numeral 10 indicates the truck of a ditching machine having an annular track l1 designed to support the rotatively mounted platform 12 by means of suitable rollers 13. The truck is provided with an upwardl extending hub 14 which acts as a pivot or the platform 12. The platform 12 includes a pair of parallel I-beams 15 which are projected beyond the track 11 a considerable distance and designed to support the cab 16.

Mounted transversely in the outer ends of the. beams 15 is a shaft 17 having rollers 18, sald rollers being designed to support a frame 19 having at its outer end a counterweight 20. vThe inner end of the frame 19 1s provided with a transversely arranged shaft 21 supporting rollers 22. Said rollers 22 are designed to engage the under surface of the upper flanges of the I-beams 15, as clearly illustrated in Figure 4, while i the frame members 19 are designed to travel on the upper surface of the rollers 18 with the weight 20 overhanging said rollers in such a manner that the inner end of the frame 19 has a tendency to move upwardly and is limited against its upward movement by the upper flanges of the I-beams l5.

By this arrangement it will be seen that the counterweight 20 may be moved toward or from the center of the pivot platform to counterbalance the weight of the bucket 23 pivotally supported on the outer end of the boom 24. It will readily be seen that any change in the inclination of the boom 24 will cause the bucket 23 to move toward or from the center of the platform 12. It is desirable to prevent excessive tilting of the platform 12 to move the weight 20 outwardly at the same time the bucket 23 is moved outwardly.

To provide means for automatically adjusting the weight 20 I have provided preferably the following mechanism:

Supported between the I-beams 15 is a pair of channel irons 25 to wh'ich one of the rollers 13 is mounted, and also a bearing member 26 rotatively supporting one end of a shaft 27. The shaft 27 is also rotatively mounted in a channel iron 28. The outer end of the shaft 27 is screw threaded and provided with anut 29 secured to the for ward end of the frame 19 so that as the shaft 27 is rotated, the frame member 19 will be either moved inwardly or outwardly, depending on the direction of rotation of said shaft. Suitable collars are rovided for preventing end movement of t e shaft relative to the supporting bearings.

Loosely mounted on the shaft 27 is a gear 30 and a sprocket wheel 31, each of which is provided with a suitable clutch member designed to coact With-a slidable clutch member 32 feathered to the shaft 27. The said clutch member is designed to coact with -in their normal positions.

either of the first said clutch members by a slight axial movement.

Mounted parallel with the shaft 27 is a driving shaft 33, which may be continuously operated through a gear 34 or any other suitable means actuated by a suitable power device such as the countershaft of the ditching machine mechanism. A pinion gear 35 is fixed to the shaft 33 and in mesh with the gear 30. A sprocket 36 is also fixed to the said shaft 33 and designed to support a chain 37 operated over the sprocket 31.

Thus it will be seen that as the shaft 33 is continuously operated, the gear 30 will be driven in one direction, while the sprocket 31 is driven in the opposite direction, and the shaft 27 may be driven in either direction bysirnply shifting the clutch member 32 either forwardly or rearwardly.

The clutch member 32 may be either hand' actuated or automatically controlled. In the drawings, I have illustrated one means for automatically controlling the same, which comprises a rock shaft 38 mounted adjacent to one side of the member 11 by means of suitable brackets 39 and a rock shaft 4() mounted on the opposite side of the member 11 by means of suitable brackets 41. Each of said rock shafts is provided wit-h an inwardly projecting finger 42 designed to be supported beneath the lower edge of the annular member 11 to just clear the same when Each of the rock shafts is provided with an upwardly extending arm 43, said arms having their free ends connected by means of a link 44. The shaft 38 is also provided with a lever 45 which extends outwardly and then upwardly and terminates in a forked portion 46 pivotally connected to the clutch member 32.

Thus it will be seen that if the'boom 24 is inclined outwardly, the bucket 23 will be moved outwardly, causing the opposite side of the platform 12 to be elevated, causing the finger of the shaft 38 to engage the under surface of the member 11, and the clutch member 32 to be thrown into engagement with the clutch member of the gear 30 and the shaft 27 rotated to move the weight outwardly. This will continue until the weight 20 counterbalances the weight of the bucket, at which time the platform 12, will again assume its normal position and the linger of the shaft 38 will disengage the under surface of the member 11. A spring 46 is provided and connected to the rod 44 for normally retaining the clutch .member 32 and the fingers of the rock shafts in their inoperative positions.

It will further be seen that if the bucket 23 is moved inwardly, after the weight 2O has been moved outwardly, the boom side of the frame 12 will be elevated and the finger 42 of the shaft 40 will engage the under surface of the member 11, causing the clutch 32 to be moved into en agement with the sprocket 31 and the sha t 27 rotated in the opposite direction as previously described to move the weight 20 inwardly.

Thus it will be seen that I have provided means ofsimple, durable and inexpensive construction for counterbalancing the weight of the boom when adjusted in its various angular positions; and provided in connection therewith means whereby the same will be automatically controlled by any slight tilting movement of the platform relative to the support on which the platform is mounted.

In order to shorten the tail swing of the device, I have provided a notch 49 in the outer and lower corner of the cab 16 for receiving the weight 20 so that the said weight Will rest within the outer contour of said ca I claim as my invention: i

1. In combination, a supporting truck, a` ditcher platform pivotally mounted to swing in a horizontal plane and slightly tiltable relative to said truck, a boom pivoted to one side of said platform to swing in a vertical plane and overhanging said platform, a counterweight supported on the opposite side of said platform and adapted to move toward and from the pivot center of said platform, and means actuated by the tilting of said platform for automatically operating said counterweight to counterbalance the overhanging boom when in its various angular positions of movement.

2. In a device of the class described, a rotatively mounted ditcher platform, a boom pivoted to one side of said platform having its outer end overhanging the same, said platform being provided with a pair of laterally projecting and spaced I-beams, a shaft mounted transversely in the outer ends of 'said beams, a pair of rollers on said shaft, a. frame supported between said I-beams and resting on said rollers, a count-erweight on the outer end of said frame, rollers mounted on the inner end of said frame to engage the under surface of the upper flanges of said I-beams, a screw threaded shaft arranged centrally and longitudinally of said frame, means for connecting the inner end of said frame with the screw threaded portion of said shaft, and means for rotating said shaft.

3. In a device of the class described, a rotatively mounted ditcher platform, a boom pivoted to one side of said platform having its outer end overhanging the same, said platform being provided with a pair of laterally projecting and spaced Lbeams, a shaft mounted transversely7 in the outer ends of said beams, a pair o rollers on said shaft, a frame supported between vsaid I-beams and resting on said rollers, a counterweight on the outer end of said frame, rollers mounted llO on the inner end of said frame to engage the under surface of the upper flanges of said I-heams, a screw threaded shaft arranged centrallfy and longitudinally of said frame, means r-connecting the inner end of said frame with the screw threaded portion of said shaft, and means for automatically rotating said shaft, said means being actuated by the Atilting movement of said platform relative to its support.

4. In combination, a supporting truck, a ditcher platform pivotally mounted to swing in a horizontal plane and slightly tiltable relative to said truck, a boom pivoted to one side of said platform to swing in a vertical plane and overhanging one side of said platform, a counterweight supported on the opposite side of said platform adap-ted to move toward and from the center of said platform, a screw threaded shaft arranged longitudinally of the movement of said counterweight for moving the counterweight outwardly as the shaft is rotated in one direction and inwardly as the shaft is operated in the opposite direction, means actuated by the tilting of said platform for rotating said shaft in one direction as the platform is tilted in one direction, and means actuated by the tilting of the platform in the opposite direction for reversing the rotation of said shaft.

5. In combination, a supporting truck, a dtcher platform pivotally mounted to swing in a horizontal plane and slightly tiltable relative to said truck, a boom, pivoted to one side of said platform to swing in a vertical plane and overhanging the platform, a counterweight supported on the outside of said platform adapted to move toward and from the pivot center of said platform, means for actuating said counterweight including a screw threaded shaft arranged longitudinally of 'the `movement of said counterweight and operatively connected with the counterweight so that as the shaft is rotated in one direction the counterweight will be moved outwardly, and when the shaft is rotated in the opposite direction the counterweight will be moved inwardly, clutch members feathered to said shaft, a` coacting clutch member rotatively mountedon said shaft in operative relation with each of the first clutch members, means for driving the last said clutch members in opposite directions, means actuated by the tilting of said platform for throwing one of the first said clutch members into operative relation with its coacting clutch member as the platform is tilted in one direction, and means actuated by the tilting of the plat- .form in the opposite direction for throwing the other one of the first said clutch 1 members into operative relation with its coacting clutch member.

Des Moines, Iowa, February 15, 1928.

GEORGE T. RONK. 

